Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

We're now hearing from Donald Trump, who is meeting Irish Taoiseach Michéal Martin in the Oval Office.

We're still getting information from the reporters in the room, but we do know that Trump says he has gotten "positive messages" about the potential of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

"But a positive message means nothing," he tells reporters. "[This is] a very serious situation."

Trump adds that representatives are "going to Russia right now as we speak" to discuss the proposal.

"Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia. If we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible blood bath [to end]."

In what has become a frequent statement from the president, Trump again blames Joe Biden for "allowing" the conflict in Ukraine to begin.

What footage from Kursk showspublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

16:08 GMT 12 March

Image source, Telegram/Tass

By Richard Irvine-Brown and Fridon Kiria

BBC Verify and BBC Monitoring have been looking at the Kursk region of Russia, on the border of Ukraine, after the Russian military claimed to have retaken land from Ukrainian forces.

A drone video released by Tass, a Russian state news agency, but now deleted from its Telegram channel, showed men carrying the Russian flag through the park at the centre of the town of Sudzha.

Another video filed by Reuters shows similar footage at the same spot.

Russia’s Sudzha was captured by Ukraine in their surprise offensive into Kursk last year – the largest settlement they took.

While we cannot be certain when these were filmed, both appeared online today, and reverse-searching frames from the videos show the earliest copies emerging around 06:00 GMT.

Deep State, which runs a map of the Ukrainian-Russian front lines based on open-source material, puts Russia back in control of Sudzha.

However a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence has denied forces have entirely left the town.

Image source, EPA

Defence ministers from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Poland are meeting in Paris to discuss measures to boost European defence and provide security for Ukraine.

It comes as Washington says it will be discussing ceasefire proposals with Moscow.

Speaking on Wednesday, UK Defence Secretary John Healey says European nations are "stepping up".

"By deepening our defence cooperation, boosting spending and enhancing our collective strength, we send a clear message: we will not waver in standing with Ukraine and defending our shared values."

In the past few weeks the UK and France have been working to rally European support for Kyiv amid US unpredictability under the new administration. EU and Nato officials were also due at talks in Paris.

It comes a day after 34 army chiefs from Nato countries as well as Japan and Australia met in Paris for rare talks without their US counterparts.

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent

The US is set to introduce a 30-day ceasefire proposal negotiated with Ukraine to Russia in the coming days.

Trump administration officials are seeing it as a major breakthrough towards the foreign policy goals of a president who campaigned to end the war.

So does it make a ceasefire plausible? And if so, can it end the war after Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago in a just and sustainable way, and on terms that keep the region and the world safe?

It's worth breaking down some of what's in the statement to try to analyse it.

"The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine," says the ceasefire proposal.

This is the big win for Zelensky in this agreement and sees US weapons supplies being delivered at a rate of around $2b (£1.5b)-worth a month, restored.

Critically, it also means Washington will once again share its intelligence data and satellite pictures with Kyiv, which helps it target Russian positions.

The White House said it suspended this aid because it felt Zelensky wasn't "committed" to Trump's peace plan.

• Read more on what is in the Ukraine ceasefire plan Washington is presenting to Russia.

Much of this is about 'optics'published at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

15:09 GMT 12 March

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

As the baton for an elusive ceasefire in Ukraine passes from Jeddah to Washington to Moscow this is as much about 'optics' - meaning how things appear and how people want them to appear - as it is about facts on the ground.

Ukraine’s leadership has been getting advice from its friends, who are reported to include Britain’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

Their message is clear: like it or not, you must mend relations with the White House. To that end, there has been no more talk from President Zelensky about the war's end being a very long way off, words that infuriated President Trump who wants it to end immediately.

Hence Ukraine swiftly falling in line with the US negotiating team’s proposal for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire. This allows Kyiv to present itself on the world stage as being just as eager for an early peace deal as the Americans are, and willing to go the extra mile to achieve it.

So now the challenge for Moscow is how to cling on to its original, maximalist goals for subjugating Ukraine while not appearing to be an obstacle to peace. This will entail some very careful planning behind the Kremlin's walls.

Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA

The UK, along with France and Germany, were “intimately involved” in helping Ukraine and the US reach this agreement, according to UK government sources.

The BBC has been told that over the past week there has been a concerted European effort, led by Keir Starmer, to get the US and Ukraine back in good favour with one another.

The UK sources say that last week the prime minister's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, worked with his US counterpart Mike Waltz, and German and French officials, to fashion a plan for a ceasefire and the steps that might follow.

Over the weekend Powell travelled to Kyiv to meet Zelensky and help draft a written proposal which included a temporary pause in fighting, then confidence-building measures such as an exchange of prisoners-of-war, the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia and the release of civilians.

One aim of the European teams working behind the scenes has been to ensure that it is now Russia that is in the spotlight: does it want peace?

Our colleague Ben Tavener has been speaking to people in Moscow, as they react to news of the ceasefire talks.

"I really hope for this. I think they’ve already agreed everything – there are just general political statements for the media, for us ordinary people," says one man, Ivan.

But Sergei is concerned that a 30-day ceasefire would just give troops a chance to supply: "I see [a danger in this for Russia] given what I’ve heard today.

"There will be no shooting for 30 days and they will be supplied with weapons. What’s that? It’s the same thing, the same war, just slower."

And Liliya tells Ben she does not trust the US. "Of course I would like them to agree a ceasefire, an end to the war. I don't trust the US. Their position constantly changes."

"If they really want it, then I think anything is possible," Zeid adds. "Of course, I hope all this ends soon, our people are dying there and I feel sorry for the other guys too."

Image source, Oleksiy Kuleba

Earlier we brought you reports of strikes on a cargo ship in the southern port of Odesa which Ukraine says killed at least four people - all Syrian nationals.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba previously said the ship, which had a Barbados flag and was bound for Algeria, was being loaded with grain when it was hit.

In the last few moments Ukraine's foreign minister has paid his respects to the four Syrians, aged between 18 and 24.

"This is an attack on global food security and maritime safety," Andrii Sybiha says on X.

Will Russia engage? We don't knowpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

13:50 GMT 12 March

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

From the wooden-panelled corridors of his presidential palace, Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that he trusts the US "would take strong steps" against Russia, if it didn’t agree to this proposed ceasefire.

He described the US-Ukraine joint statement as "positive", claiming it showed that Ukraine is ready for peace.

He also repeated his red line of never recognising the territory Moscow has seized by force.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was involved in the negotiations in Saudi Arabia yesterday, said if Russia said yes to a truce – it would be "very good news" – and if it didn’t – he claimed it would "reveal a lot about what Moscow’s goals are".

"You are getting a little ahead of yourself," was Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s reply when asked about Russia’s position. He added that any details from the Jeddah discussions had yet to be received.

Being more aligned with America is a welcome position for Ukraine, but the consequential questions on whether Russia will engage, and what America will do if it doesn’t, remain unanswered

Image source, Reuters

Zelensky says Ukraine has shown it is willing to adopt a ceasefire. Now, he says, Russia needs to respond.

His comments come after Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire after talks with the US.

"Everything depends on whether Russia wants a ceasefire and silence, or it wants to continue killing people," Zelensky says.

"Ukraine has demonstrated its position... and today Russia has to respond to this."

Earlier, Russia said it would wait to be briefed by American officials before commenting on proposals. Since then, Washington said it would be talking to Moscow today.

Vitaliy Shevchenko
Russia editor, BBC Monitoring

More now from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who says his troops continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk region.

Following reports of Russian troops capturing central parts of the key town of Sudzha, President Zelensky says: "Our troops in Kursk region are performing their tasks. The Russians are definitely trying to put as much pressure as they can," he tells reporters.

"Military command is doing what it’s supposed to be doing by trying to preserve the lives of our warriors."

He says Ukraine should be ready for "strong information pressure" from Russia, but stopped short of denying reports of rapid Russian advances in Kursk region.

Image source, Reuters

Now let's bring you some comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is speaking to reporters in Kyiv.

He describes this week's meeting in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian officials as constructive, saying that a potential 30-day ceasefire with Russia could be used to draft a broader peace deal.

Zelensky also says Ukraine supported a US effort to end Russia's invasion as soon as possible, and that the resumption of US military aid and intelligence sharing was very positive.

He adds that elections in Ukraine will only be held once martial law is ended, in line with legislation.

Image source, PA Media

We can now bring you some reaction to the ceasefire plans from Westminster, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomes the progress in talks between Ukraine and the US.

"We must now redouble our efforts to get a lasting, secure peace," he says in his opening address at this week's Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

"On Saturday, I'll convene international leaders to discuss how we can make further progress," Starmer tells MPs.

That's because the PM will be hosting a virtual meeting of world leaders this weekend to discuss Ukraine, building on a summit in London this month when he announced the formation of a "coalition of the willing" to support Kyiv.

America's top diplomat, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been addressing reporters from Shannon Airport. He is on his way back from peace talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.

Let's take a look at what he had to say:

• Rubio says Washington will bring their ceasefire proposal to Russia today, adding that there's "already been contact at different [diplomatic] levels"
• Ukraine is prepared to stop "all battlefield activity" in exchange for certain actions on the part of Russia, he says
• Kyiv, he adds, wants long-term security and to make sure ongoing hostilities do not happen again. "So I think the question really is more about a deterrence", he says, but the secretary of state gave no details on how Ukraine might "create that"

• Rubio says the US expects Russia to raise the issue of European sanctions and frozen assets during negotiations
• Security promises made by Europeans to Ukraine will likely also be a part of the conversation, he adds
• Also on the agenda would be an exchange of prisoners of war, and Ukrainians "need to get their children back"

More now from Marco Rubio, who tells reporters at Shannon Airport in Ireland that Washington strongly urges Russia to "end all hostilities".

"We'll have contact with them today, there's already been contact at different levels with counterparts, different members of the administration, and that will continue," Rubio adds.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was waiting for detailed information on the US-Ukraine talks from the American side.

The US secretary of state says he hopes to get a positive answer from Russia and insists there "is no military solution to this conflict".

Image source, Reuters

"There is no military solution to this conflict... The only way we're going to have peace if through negotiation," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, in reference to Russia's response to ongoing Ukraine ceasefire negotiations.

Rubio is addressing reporters after talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. He says the US will have contact with the Russians on Wednesday.

"We're going to bring it to them directly," he says.

Adding: "The ball is truly in their court."

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump is more than 50 days into his second term as US President. In the last month alone his administration has made a number of comments and moves that flipped the America's approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Here's a quick recap of recent significant events:

• 12 February: Trump holds a phone call with Vladimir Putin and says he wants to "work together, very closely" with the Russian leader to end the war in Ukraine. On the same day, in Brussels, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth downplayed the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato
• 14 February: Two days later in Munich at a security conference Vice President JD Vance stunned European leaders when he launched a verbal attack on them for suppressing free speech - and said the biggest threat was the "threat from within"

• 18 February: Hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister met in Saudi Arabia, President Trump weighed in claiming that not only could Ukraine have ended the war, it should never have started it. Volodymyr Zelensky hit back saying Trump was living in a "disinformation space", which then led to Trump criticising Zelensky again by calling him a dictator
• 25 February: The US twice sided with Russia in votes at the United Nations to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine - highlighting the Trump administration's change of stance on the war
• 28 February: Trump and Zelensky meet at the White House and engage in a robust back and forth with reporters in the Oval Office - then the meeting descended into a fiery, public row in front of the world's media and resulted in Zelensky being asked to leave
• 3 March: America pauses military aid to Ukraine
• 5 March: The future of US support for Ukraine was pushed further into doubt, when National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed the US had paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine
• 11 March: The United States says it is to put proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine to Russia, after President Zelensky agreed to an interim break in the fighting following talks in Saudi Arabia

Russia holding the ball in its court before making next movepublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

11:11 GMT 12 March

Ben Tavener
Moscow producer

Image source, Reuters

The Kremlin says it is too early for it to comment on a potential ceasefire agreed at yesterday’s US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, saying it needs to analyse information pledged by the Americans first.

"We are closely analysing everything said in Jeddah yesterday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters.

Peskov adds that the Kremlin was now waiting for detailed information on the US-Ukraine talks from the American side that would be delivered via “various diplomatic channels… in the coming days".

The Kremlin says it would inform the press as that happens but would not say who would take part, amid reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff could travel to Moscow tomorrow.

On potential talks between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Peskov says a call could be organised "very quickly" if needed, but denied one was already planned. Putin would speak only to Trump, he says.

So for now, no comment: the Kremlin is holding onto the ball that’s been kicked back into its court until it has all the information it needs to make its move.

But remember that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly ruled out the idea of a temporary ceasefire on previous occasions, arguing Ukraine would use the opportunity to rearm and regroup. It is therefore likely to be a hard sell for the Russians without cast-iron guarantees this will not happen.

Four people have been killed and two injured in a Ukrainian attack in the Bolshesoldatsky district of Russia's western Kursk region this morning, according to the region's Telegram channel.

Acting Kursk governor Alexander Khinshtein says a feed mill in the village of Kozyrevka was hit and preliminary data suggests those killed were employees.

This comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Russian troops were "successfully advancing" in Kursk and recapturing villages from Ukrainian forces there.

Also today, the Russian defence ministry said the military had retaken five settlements in Kursk near the Ukrainian border.

Ukraine's Kursk operation was launched with a mass incursion in August 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in recent months that the operation had established a buffer zone, which has prevented Russian forces from being deployed in key areas of the frontline in eastern Ukraine.

The news from Kursk comes after several overnight strikes in Ukraine in the Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions.

Negotiations also yield resumption of intel sharing with Ukrainepublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

10:16 GMT 12 March

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

It’s been less than two weeks since President Trump and President Zelensky’s extraordinary row inside the Oval Office...and now a huge turnaround

Then, the Ukrainian leader left without a deal. Now, Donald Trump says he is open to him coming back to the White House.

It follows more than eight hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, which appear to have moved Ukraine and the US onto the same page once more.

Announcing the ceasefire deal in Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the shooting had to stop.

He didn’t give details on any American security guarantees for Ukraine - but said gaining access to Ukraine’s rare minerals – a key point of earlier tensions - wasn't part of the agreement.

Rubio made clear it was now on Russia to accept the ceasefire and said his team planned to take the offer to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.

Negotiations also yielded a resumption in vital US military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which were suspended after President Trump’s public fallout with the Ukrainian leader.